Plumb-Rule



F. HOLT.

PLUMB RULE.

(No Model.)

No. 519,576. Patented May 8, 1894'. j

' /N VENTO? Wl TNESSES was@ e/ I A TUHNEYS.

we NArmNAL LlmaanAP'mNa cuMPANY.

. trated in the drawings.

ANITED .STATES PATENT QFFICE.

FRANK HOLT, OF SOUTH PITTSBURG, TENNESSEE.

PLUME-RULE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,576, dated May 8, 1894.

Application filed July 6, 1893. Serial No. 479,701. (No model.)

.T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK HOLT, of South Pittsburg, in the county of Marion and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Plumb-Rule, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXa'ct description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved plumb rule, which-is simple and durable in construction, more'especially designed for the use of" masonsr and bricklayers, and arranged to enable the op'- erator to quickly and accurately lay the stones or bricks in proper positions.

The invention consists in the particular construction of a rule having two graduated blades arranged at right angles with their edges parallel to one another and adapted to tit on and to be secured to the corner of a v wall.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in alllthe figures.v

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transversesection of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4. is a sectional plan view of the same as applied, and on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a base plate for the rule to reston. Fig. 6, is a perspective view of a modified form of the same; and Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the improvement converted into a square.

The improved plumb rule is provided with a rule A, preferably made in two parts B and B', composed of the blades B3, B4, and B5, ,B6 respectively, the blades of each set being arranged at right angles to each other, as illus- The parts B and B are united by bolts C extending through the blades B5 and B6, and an offset B2 formed integral with the lower ends of the blades B5 and B4, it being understood that the said 0E- set B2 is right angular similar to the blades. Thus, when the two parts B and B are united as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the blade B5 is in alignment with the blade B5, and the blade B6 is in alignment ,with it's corresponding blade B4. In the blades B5, B4, B5 and B6, are formed apertures B7 through which nails can be driven into the wall to fasten the rule to the corner of the wall, so as to hold the rule in proper position; that/is, when its upper partlextends above the last course of stones or bricks laid. The endsof the blades B5, B4 and B5, B5, are united with each other, so as to form at the corner 'of the united blades, a vertically extending slot B5 as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1. The outer faces of the angularly arranged blades of thel rule A are provided with graduations repref senting linear measurements, so that the operator is enabledto lay the bricks or stones according to the measurement on the rule, and not the rule on the bricks or stones, as now generally practiced. The bolts C for uniting the parts B and B of the ruleA are preferably provided with wing nuts C as illustrated in Fig. 1, the said wing nuts screwing up against the outer facesv of the offset B2. The heads of the said bolts are preferably countersunk on lthe inside of the blades B5 and B5, as indicated in Fig.' 2, so' that the corresponding blades B5, B5, and B4, B6, represent an uubroken surface throughout their length atV indicate ,the true position of the rule, and in case the latter is not entirely plumb, it can be 'readily put in such a position, the bubbles then indicating at the properl zero mark, asv

will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 3. If desired an ordinary plumb bob may be used to test the proper position of the rule, when put in place.

In order to stretcha line along the sides of IOO the building, to enable the operators between jacent corners with a slide E made in the form of an angular blade fitted onto the outer surfaces of faces of the rule A, as indicated in Fig. 1, the said slide being provided with apertures E through one .of which passes the rope or cord F stretched from one slide to the other, and passing through -the slot B8 to the the inside of the rule, the inner end of the cord or rope being formed with a knot to prevent it from passing through the slot'BS. By this arrangement, the slides E on the rules A on two adjacent corners of abuilding, can be moved up or down on the rules according to the graduation, so as to stretch the line F alongithe side wall to indicate the heights of the bricks for the next courses. By this arrangement cords may be stretched from one corner rule A to two corner rules of similar construction and located at the two next adjacent corners, so that two walls of the building have proper cords to guide the middle men in laying the stones or bricks properly, and in accordance with the bricks laid by the corner men at the three corners.

4When starting a wall the rule A is supported on a base plate Gr or H formed on one or two adjacent sides with flanges G', as plainly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6,so that the lowermost edges of the rule A fit snugly against the said flange or flanges, to support the rule in a vertical position until a sufficient number of courses of bricks have been laid to allow the workman to fasten the rule to the wall by nails driven through the apertures B7, as above described.

The base plate shown in Fig. 5 is more espeeially designed for use in a corner of a wall, while the other plate is adapted for use along a wall; it being, however, understood that the flanges are turned to and rest against the lower or base portion of the wall.

When it is desired to use the rule as a regu- Y lar square, then the two parts B and B are set at angles to each other, and fastened in glace by one of the bolts C, as indicated in It will be seen that the rule can be readily arranged at the corner ot' a building and supported in place to plumb two sides at once, andV it also enables an operator to lay the bricks according to the measurement indicated on the members of the rule, as above described.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A plumb rule provided with two blades arranged at right angles to each other and with their edges parallel to one another, the said blades being connected at their ends and spaced intermediately thereof, so as to form a slot between the blades,substantiallyas described.

2. A plumb rule comprising two blades arranged at right angles to each other and with their edges parallel to one another, and an angular double spirit level adapted to be secured to the upper ends of the blades, substantially as described. l

3. A plumb rule comprising a rule having two graduated blades arranged at right angles to each other, and a base plate formed with right angular flanges adapted to engage the blades of the said rule to support the samein proper position, substantially as shown and described,

4. A plumb rule comprising a rule having two graduated blades arranged at right angles to cach other, and a slide fitted on the said blades at their outer faces and adapted to carry a rope 0r cord, substantially as shown and described.

5. A graduated rule made of two parts, each having two blades arranged at right angles to each other and with their edges parallel to one another, and means, substantially as described, for fastening the said two parts together, either in an extended or right angular position, as and for the purpose set forth.

G. A plumb rule provided with a rule made in two parts, each having two graduated blades arranged at right angles to each other, and means, substantially as described, for fastening the said two parts together, either in an extended or right angular position, sub stantially as shown and described.

FRANK BOLT.

Witnesses:

A. L. Puurs, W. B. GARRETT. 

